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3 thoughts on “Liberté”

Liberty, Freedom and Equality have different meanings. Liberty can be seen license. Freedom can be viewed as no rules. Equality can mean the lowest common denominator. That was not what the United States was originally about. Liberty required law. Rights demanded responsibility. Freedom required respect of others. Europeans have an odd view of the United States. A lot of us in the US have a strange 19th Century view of Europe (at least I do). The ugly American is definitely real. Below is Emma Lazarus’ poem: THE NEW COLOSSUS.

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
MOTHER OF EXILES. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

Living in “AMERIKA” as my Czech ancestors and relatives call it is not like living in Europe. As Grandma Budka said once to me “Marek, you need to go to the old country. The United States is so uncivilized!” She was right in so many ways.